Jesus Camp

[Meiso]

I went to a Christian primary school and, while the school was officially secular, my secondary school was also Christian (C of E). All assemblies were Christian (without much regard for those in the school who -weren't- Christian) and we had RE lessons which were very much designed to promote Christianity. I've not got a huge problem with this; I understand the arguments for it, although I found it a little baffling that we also had lessons designed to try and promote autonomous thinking (though I am not inferring Christianity and autonomous thought are mutually exclusive, I found it odd we were told what we should believe but then told we should make up our own minds).

Anyway, I had a Christian education but I have grown up not to be Christian. The main cause for this was the manner of the Christian figureheads. I remember in my primary school, when children expressed doubt in CofE, the Rev would get very, very, very mad. I mean, throwing things across the room mad. By secondary school, those that expressed that they did not wish to take part in Christian assemblies or sing hymns were subjected to ridicule infront of the whole school (usually forced to choose between what would result in weeks of detention or to get up on stage in front of 1000+ pupils and sing a a hymn solo). Mercifully, this stopped when we progressed through the years.

I didn't, and still don't, understand how a truth which is supposed to be self-evident in the world (e.g. God) is forced upon children. If I were to discover faith in an omnipotent being, I thing the relationship with him would be far more profound if i were find it myself and then do the whole letting him into my life type of thing.

When i see things such as that documentary, I just want to know why the camp is doing it - for the souls of the children, or to bolster the support of their agenda?

Ah well.